As a member of San Bernardino’s Animal Control Commission, I can personally attest to the concern and genuine commitment that Councilman John Valdivia has shown for the protection, preservation, and humane treatment of all animals.

Councilman Valdivia is committed to making San Bernardino’s shelter better for our animals, volunteers, and more accommodating to the public. Councilman Valdivia’s commitment to the animal shelter is why I am supporting him to be our next mayor.

San Bernardino needs a leader with John’s passion and dedication to our community. Please join me in voting for John Valdivia for mayor.

Once again, President Trump shows his obvious prejudice and desire to punish any who do not support him, by threatening to cut funds for the California wildfire damage.What about the costs of the floods in “his states; what about the cost of hurricanes (again in “his” states; what about the costs of tornadoes, in “his states?” Better yet, how about putting the blame where it really belongs: climate change.

Republicans for years have refused to do anything to reduce climate change because of the costs. What do you know, the cost of doing nothing is even higher!

— Rita Skinner, Riverside

Political pendulum swings too far

As a long-time voter, I am faced with the unappetizing prospect of voting for the least annoying of two Democrats for most state offices. This smells like prior restraint to me.

Admittedly the 135 candidates for governor after Gray Davis’s recall was somewhat over the top, but the top-two primary is similarly over the-top in the opposite direction.

It seems to be a law of nature for a political pendulum to swing too far in both directions.

At the very least, the ballot should include “None of the above” as a choice.

In addition to raising the cost of living for all Californians who drive, and raising truck transportation costs thereby driving the price of all products up, a minimum of 40 percent of the revenue from SB 1 that we are trying to repeal goes to public transportation, not roads.

And the taxes will escalate over time to new heights. That means the bullet train that is foundering due to lack of funds and cost overruns. What the proponents of Proposition 6 want:

• A vote for any future tax hikes.• A conscious effort on the part of the legislature to focus existing funds toward vital projects like road repair• A conscious effort on the part of Caltrans to perform efficient, cost effective work instead of feather bedding any and all projects and• Eliminate funding for the bullet train which is a total fiasco and which most Californians now wish to eliminate.

Letter writers Chuck Ryder and Earl Ranney, with their self-important opinions of the actions of Judge Brett Kavanaugh, remind me of the individuals we’ve all run into at a gathering who are quick to offer their comments of what they would do if a bad guy pointed a gun at them, but when asked if they had ever had a gun pointed at them have to admit it has never happened. They have no idea of what they would do.

— Lanford L. Blanton, Rancho Cucamonga

The Dodgers

Is Clayton Kershaw the Los Angeles Dodgers answer to Andy Dalton of the Cincinnati Bengals?